Book reviews - learning to read with Hachette Books

Reading Level 1

The Funny Duckling (Tadpoles) by Sue Graves

The Great Food Robbery (Tadpoles) by Jill Atkins

 Grandpa's Car (Tadpoles) by Sue Graves

The Wish Fish (Tadpoles) by Lynne Benton

The Hungry Little Monkey (Tiddlers) by Andy Blackford 

Tiddlers are designed for children starting to read alone. The colourful pictures and carefully planned text will give children confidence. There is a word list at the front of each book to help with learning, and tips for parents. Poor monkey has a problem - he has a lovely banana but how does he open it? All his animal friends help out in this amusing story.

 Hurry Up (Tiddlers) by Ann Bryant

The illustrations in the Tiddlers series are outstanding. They are simple, yet really bright and colourful and, importaqntly, they contain lots of clues to help children decipher the words. The story makes good use of repetition whilst keeping the storyline flowing. Everyone is getting very impatient with tractor as he crawls along the road. Everyone is relieved when he turns off - but look what happens! And then there is something even slower... A really amusing story. There are picture questions at the end of all Tiddlers books to help understanding.

George the Knight (Tiddlers) by Leon Read

George really wants to be a knight, but he needs a sword, a shield and a horse. Help him find them as you read the story and use the clues in the colourful pictures. Simple repetitive language in a large clear font helps children who are just beginning to learn to read. At the front of the book there are helpful suggestions for parents, together with a list of the words to be found in the book. Check your child's understanding in a fun way with the picture puzzles at the end of the book.

Reading Level 2

Tyrannosaurus Ted (Leapfrog Rhyme Time) by Joan Stimson

Tyrannosaurus Ted is a peaceful dinosaur who likes to dance not fight. Find out if his dancing can save the day in this story for children who are able to recognose familiar words and who can sound out new words with some help. Bright pictures, catchy rhyming text,combined with the ever-popular topic of dinosaurs make this an attractive title which children will enjoy.  The puzzles at the end are fun and consolidate understanding.

Reading Level 3

 Oddest Pets (Leapfrog Learners) by Annabelle Lynch

Kim's Treehouse Pirate (Story Time) by Diane Marwood

Kim and Sal are in the treehouse reading a book about pirates. Then, suddenly, a pirate appears! The sad pirate has lost his ship. Can Kim and Sal help him find it? This series featuring the popular characters from Espresso Education includes fun stories in under 200 words for children building their reading confidence. They are satisfying stories which will amuse children whilst developing their reading skills. Comprehension is reinforced by the picture puzzles at the end of each book.

Scully Saves the Day (Story Time) by Diane Marwood

Eddy's Space Adventures (Story Time) by Diane Marwood 

The Cave Monsters (Story Time) by Sue Graves

 Alex and the Troll (Leapfrog) by Clare de Marco

Leapfrog Books - books of around 180 words - are perfect to give children confidence when they are starting reading for themselves. All the stories are fun and there are plenty to choose from, so something to interest everyone. Alex and his Dad build a bridge, but it is taken obver by the troll, who likes the disgusting smell. Alex comes up with an ingenious solution. Plenty of repetition helps reading and the colourful pictures and attractive presentation of all the series ensure their popularity.

Cheeky Monkey's Treasure Hunt (Leapfrog) by Anne Cassidy 

Wendy's all dressed up and ready for a treasue hunt, and monkey goes along to help by carrying everything. They find some treasure, but naughty monkey runs off with it......... or does he? Children wil enjoy this fun story with its colourful pictures. At the end there are some picture puzzles which are idealfor reviewing the child's comprehension and for giving the opportunity to talk more about the story.

Prickly Ballroom (Leapfrog) by Ian Smith

Porcupine would love to enter the dancing competition but for some reason, he just can't find anyone to dance with him. I wonder why? He comes up with some very ingenious solutions to his problem but Rabbit has the best idea of all. Another fun story which will give children confidence when learning to read.  

The Scary Chef's Scarecrow (Leapfrog) by Martin Remphry 

The chef loves his vegetables - but so do the birds. How can he scare them away? His friends in thre kitchen come up with a bright idea but chef can't understand why it works! There's lots of action in the pictures and children will enjoy talking about what is happening.

The Animals' Football Cup (Leapfrog) by Clare de Marco 

Football - a lovely way to encourage boys to enjoy reading! It's Jungle United versus Rainforest Rovers in the football cup final. Hippo isn't playing well. He's just too big and clumsy. But can he save the day? Enjoy talking about the story with your child by using the picture puzzles at the end of the book.
 

Felix Takes the Blame (Leapfrog) by Maeve Friel 

Poor Felix gets the blame for everything... even when it isn't his fault! Children will enjoy spotting who is really responsible for the trouble. It was..... Colourful pictures help children with the text and they will nejoy this entertaining story. There are two more stories about Felix to enjoy too.
 The Leapfrog series is perfect for children who are reading on their own, with fun stories of no more than 180 words.
 

Pip's Pets: A New Pet by Claire Llewellyn

Just right for children beginning to read on their own , this is the story of Pip selecting a new pet from the pet shop. He doesn't like the look of any of them - until he saw a hamster who became his new pet, Henry.  It is a satisfying read, with a beginning, a middle and an end perfect as an introduction to independent reading of stories. Repetition in the text helps develop confidence and the pictures can be used to give added clues to the story. There are three more titles in the series to enjoy.

The Wrong House (Leapfrog) by Penny Dolan 

Cat loves her very own house. She knows where everything is. But one day she is a bit too adventurous and she gets locked in the wrong house. Will she ever find her way home? Children will be entertained by the various ways she tries to escape.

Little Joe's Boat Race (Leapfrog) by Andy Blackford 

Little Joe hates the village boat race. His boat is too small and he never gets to join in the fun. But, perhaps, this year will be different...
 

The Leapfrog series is perfect for children who are reading on their own, with fun stories of no more than 180 words.
 

Bill's Scary Backpack (Leapfrog) by Susan Gates

Bill gets a scary backpack for his birthday. He puts it on and sets off to school, forgetting all about it... and he just can't think why he is so scary! Children will enjoy showing their understanding of the story when they answer the picture puzzles at the end of the book.
 

That Noise! (Leapfrog) by Penny Dolan 

All was quiet in the classroom... but then the children start making lots of noise. Mr Edwards asks to see them all later. Are they in trouble? Or has Mr Edwards got an idea? He has lots of djembe drums in his room.... THe illustrations are bright and colourful and childfren will enjoy getting clues from them.

Reading Level 4

Dance (My Sports Club) by Jillian Powell

It's great to see some non fiction titles included here. Many children (and not only boys) prefer to read non fiction books, and giving children a book to read on a topic which interests them is a great way to spark an interest in reading. Interest in sport is high leading up to The Olympics, so that gives these books an extra level of interest. Join Adrianna as she goes off to her dance class. Wasy to read text, and lots of colour photos make the book interesting and colourful and children will find out about a popular hobby whit]lst extending vocabulary and fluency.

Horse Riding (My Sports Club) by Jillian Powell

 The Bear Detectives: Treasure Hunt by Sally Grindley

Can the Bear Detectives solve the clues and win the village treasure hunt? With more text than books at earlier levels, this is a very satifsying and fun story for children to read on their own. The pictures are colourful and engaging and the text is well laid out. Young readers will have a realmsense of achievement and satisfaction in reading a 'real' book.

The Raja and the Rice (Start Reading Tales from Around the World) by Jillian Powell 

An entertaining story about an enterprising young boy. The Raja won't help when his family runs out of rice, but when Tamwar produces a clever picture the Raja rewards him - and Tamwar is very clever in what he asks for! Start Reading is a comprehensive collection of early reading books, providing an ideal introduction to independent reading for children at Years 1 and 2. The series covers a wide-range of text genres, including those required by the National Literacy Framework at KS1. Produced by accomplished, well-established and award-winning authors and illustrators.

Wicked Aunt Baba (Start Reading Tales from Around the World) by Jillian Powell 

When Tasha is sent off on an errand by her wicked stepmother, will she land up in the cooking pot? Read about how a towel and a comb with some magical properties save her life in this colourful tale.This series of tales from around the world is an excellent way to introduce children to other cultures, as well as fulfilling the requirements of the National Curriculum.

Reading Level 5

Olga Bakes Bread (Start Reading Nana Knows Best) by Joe Hackett

Level 5 books are for children who are reading alone confidently and are ready for more complex plots. Olga is very excited. Aunt Rosa is coming to stay at Nana's house for the holidays and Olga is determined to make it an extra special visit! But things go wrong when she makes some bread - but Nana knows best! This is one of four books in the series, and children will enjoy getting to know the characters as they read through the colourful series.

Olga's Dance (Start Reading Nana Knows Best) by Joe Hackett

When nana and Olga go to collect pumpkins, Nana falls over and won't be able to dance at the village festival. She asks Olga to take her place - and Olga has more fun than she expected! A satisfying read, and an attractive book, with plenty of appropriate illustrations to give a real feel for the setting, 

Sleeping Beauty - 100 Years Later (Hopscotch Twisty Tales) by Laura North 

Young readers will enjoy these entertaining twists on the traditional well-loved tales. Each contains up to 400 words, and these are interwoven with the illustrations to enhance enjoyment and understanding. If Sleeping Beauty really did sleep for 100 years, what sort of world would she wake up to?

Little Bad Riding Hood (Hopscotch Twisty Tales) by Julia Jarman

Little Bad Riding Hood sets off with for some cakes for Granny, but she has a habit of getting into trouble... This series is a brilliant way to extend children's imaginations - encourage them to write their own twisty fairy tales and see what they come up with! The picture puzzles at the end are a great way to check understanding and extend discussion of the stories. 

 Hopscotch Fairy Tales: Sleeping Beauty by Anne Walter

The princess is cursed by a wicked fairy and must sleep for a hundred years. The rest of the kingdom falls alseep too, and the palace is covered by a thick forest. Can anyone rescue the princess? Children will enjoy discussing what they have learnt with the aid of the picture puzzles at the end and extending their writing ability. This series of adaptations of well-known fairy tales is a lovely way to introduce children to this great genre of writing.

Reading Level 6

Sinbad and the Pirates by Martin Waddell

Sinbad the Sailor is in trouble! His ship has been captured by pirates. But the pirates are sailing close to where the sea witches sing... and the sea witches' song is a powerful spell that sends people to sleep... The illustrations are colourful and dramatic and the book is a lovely way to develop reading skills and confidence. This is an entertaining and amusing series, and children will feel a real satisfaction when they have read a 'real' story for themselves.
 

Sinbad and the Giant Spider (Hopscotch Adventures) by Martin Waddell

Sinbad and Ali are shipwrecked by the foot of some needle-sharp cliffs. It seems there's no way out, until they spy an underground cave... but something nasty lives in there! How will they escape? The Hopscotch Adventures series features exciting, page-turning adventures in under 400 words for children developing their reading confidence. There are 8 books about Sinbad, so children have plenty to look forward to if they enjoy the series. Boys especially will enjoy these exciting adventures.

Animal Crackers: Precious Potter by Rose Impey and Shoo Rayner

Precious Potter starts off as a very tiny cat, but he grows........ and he grows...... until he becomes the heaviest cat in the world and eats all the other cats' food. His mother says he must get a job. He can't find anything to start with - until he finds the purrfect job. Illustrated with great humour throughout, this is a fun read for children who are ready to read paragraphs.

Reading Level 7

Happy Ever After: The Ugly Duckling Returns by Tony Bradman 

Have you ever wondered what happened after the Ugly Duckling turned into a swan?  Life has been good. Now he's a famous model, but does being the biggest celebrity in the Forest mean he can't help save it? An entertaining collection of stories form the series (6 books) and children will be encouraged to read all the series once they have enjoyed one book. At this level, children have moved on to books with more text but still plenty of illustrations to keep interest alive.

Reading Level 8

The Dragons of Wayward Crescent: Gruffen by Chris d'Lacey 

Lucy  suspects there's a monster in her bedroom but her mum knows exactly what to do. She makes a guard dragon - Gruffen - to look after Lucy. But soon Gruffen realises there's a mystery behind the monster... A longer story for children who are ready to move into reading chapter books, but still with illustrations. A really satisfying read.

Sal on the Bus (Level 1) by Diane Marwood

Sal's Red Sock (Level 2) by Sue Graves

Scrap's Best Stick (Level 4) by Sue Graves

Scrap finds the biggest stick ever. He thinks it's brilliant, but Polly and Ash aren't so sure. Then they find a little chick that needs rescuing. Perhaps Scrap's stick will come in useful after all!  This book of no more than 150 words, focuses on adjacent consonants (CVCC/CCVC words) plus the words said, so, have, like, some, come, were, there, little, one, do, when, out, what